UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Pediatrics

Title: When the Sting REALLY hurts!!

Keywords: Pediatric Anaphylaxis (PubMed Search)

Posted: 9/5/2008 by Don Van Wie, DO (Updated: 3/29/2024)
Click here to contact Don Van Wie, DO

When the Sting REALLY hurts!!

  • Anaphylaxis is an acute, potentially life-threatening problem, with multisystemic manifestations.(Remember 2 or more organ systems are required by definition!)
  • In Children, foods (Milk, Eggs, Wheat, and Soy (MEWS) are the most common allergens
  • But...peanuts and fish are among the most potent!!
  • Also children can develop anaphylaxis from the fumes of cooking fish or residual peanut in a candy bar.
  • Other common causes are preservatives, medications (antibiotics), insect venom (bee stings!!!!!!)

Remember the dose of Epinephrine is : 

0.01 mg/kg or 0.01 mL/kg of 1:1,000 IM or

0.01 mg/kg IV or 0.1 mL/kg/dose 1:10,000 IV

to the adult dose or 0.3 mg 

Also

Epipen Jr = 0.15 mg (use for < 30 Kg)

Epipen = 0.3 mg (use for > 30 Kg)

To show patients an instructional video click on the referenced link.

References